Amsterdam police placed a drone warning demonstrators to get out of the bannable area
A huge crowd of people opposing the Dutch government’s Covid-19 restrictions gathered on Sunday near the National Museum in Amsterdam. The authorities had banned the protest but violence quickly broke out.
On the streets of Amsterdam, chaotic scenes were unfolding. Police in riot gear tried to disperse thousands who had gathered at the Museumplein for an illegal rally.
It quickly escalated violently, as photos and videos posted on social media showed officers wearing riot gear fighting with demonstrators who attempted to breach the police cordon.
Police officers were seen pushing protestors away with batons. Protestors responded with banners and their fists. So far, there have not been any reports of injury. A drone was used at one point to call out protestors to evacuate the area.
One disturbing social media video shows a dog attacking a protester. The man apparently sought to break through a line of officers with dogs, one of which is seen lunging and biting the man’s arm as he struggles to break free. Two other dogs were also captured by police.
The Dutch police reported that 30 people had been arrested in total after the protest. The protestors were charged with assault, weapons possession, and other violations of the law. In the fighting, four officers sustained injuries.
The Netherlands has witnessed numerous anti-lockdown demonstrations in recent months, prompted by the government’s increasingly restrictive Covid-19 measures, including partial lockdowns and the introduction of a health pass system for the vaccinated.
The protests were called by Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister in November “pure violence”Submitted by “idiots.”
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Before the current protest, some riot officers held their own protest to bring attention to high workloads, poor conditions and violence against police. They said that they will only engage with protestors when necessary. “public order is really at stake.”
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